The East Asia Summit takes place in a shifting landscape. Tensions are brewing in the South and East China seas, the global economy is growing only slowly, and major trade accords face an uncertain future. Yet few expect solutions from Asia-Pacific leaders gathering at the EAS. One major reason is that the group is a creature of ASEAN, which is dedicated to process, not results.
With its 50th anniversary approaching in 2017, ASEAN continues to struggle -- failing to articulate a collective, lucid, view on these pressing topics. For Asian multilateral institutions to become more functional, it is time to rethink ASEAN, which has been far more successful in holding endless meetings and generating myths (for example, the ASEAN way, and "ASEAN centrality") than solving problems.
